Case studies are a type of method of research. Typically the term case studies applied to psychology or sociology. The study is based on a single group, incident, or community. A study is not based on experiments, surveys, multiple histories or an analysis of archival information. Instead of using samples with variables the case study takes an in- depth look at a single event or instance. For example in psychology an individual who suffers from major depression will be studied.
Their history such as when the symptoms appeared, if there are other sufferers in their family, and what treatment they have been under will be part of the case study information. Case studies provide a systematic view of a person, the events in their life, data that can be collected, and then an analysis of the information. At the end of the study the results are reported.
Case studies are essentially a report of a person’s life. The idea is to use the research strategy to gain a full look at the person or event that is being studied so that others can learn from it. Case studies have been used with a mix of quantitative and qualitative evidence to arrive at a conclusion. Case studies on weather have been created, as another example. A case study of hurricane Katrina has been carried out to prepare for the next time a hurricane of that strength comes on land. The end result is a statistical framework that can be used from case study data.